Minister of Industry and Trade: Synchronously inspect 33 key enterprises importing gasoline and oil

This morning (March 16), at Dien Hong Hall, under the direction of Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Hai, National Assembly deputies questioned the Ministry of Industry and Trade on a group of issues in the field of industry and trade.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and Vice Chairmen of the National Assembly at the question and answer session on the morning of March 16. Photo: daibieunhandan.vn

At the Nghe An Provincial National Assembly Delegation, Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Member of the Party Central Committee, Provincial Party Secretary, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council chaired. Also attending were National Assembly deputies working in Nghe An.

Attending the question and answer session at Nghe An bridge point were members of the Provincial Party Standing Committee: Nguyen Nam Dinh - Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Le Hong Vinh - Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Standing member of the Provincial People's Council;...

At the question and answer session, most opinions focused on questioning the production, supply, import of gasoline and oil, and the management of gasoline and oil prices in recent times.

Panorama of the questioning session at the Nghe An Provincial National Assembly Delegation bridge. Photo: Thanh Duy

Accordingly, Vietnam currently has 2 oil refineries: Dung Quat Oil Refinery under Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Joint Stock Company (BSR) with a designed capacity of 6.5 million tons of crude oil/year and Nghi Son Oil Refinery and Petrochemical Complex under Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited with a designed capacity of 10 million tons of crude oil/year.

These two factories supply about 70-75% of domestic gasoline and oil demand (of which the source from Nghi Son Refinery accounts for 35-40%, the source from Binh Son Refinery accounts for about 35%). In addition, there are also a number of condensate processing factories (producing gasoline and solvents).

Currently, the whole country has 36 key petroleum traders with the function of importing petroleum (of which 3 enterprises specialize only in trading aviation fuel).

It is expected that in 2022, the import demand for all kinds of gasoline and oil will be about 7.4 million m3 (including about 5 million m3).³handover early 2022 and 2.4 million m³Additional delivery at the end of February 2022). In the first two months of the year, businesses imported about 1.4 million m³gasoline of all kinds

The total supply of gasoline and oil for the domestic market according to the plan in 2022 is 20.7 million m³, of which domestic production is about 14,418 million m³, imported about 6,282 million m³.

Minister of Industry and Trade answers questions. Photo: vov.vn

Responding to a delegate's question about ensuring sufficient domestic gasoline supply, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said: Recently, world gasoline prices have increased dramatically with an amplitude of 40 - 60%.

In that context, the country faced difficulties due to the sudden decrease in supply from the Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Joint Venture, which supplies 35-40% of domestic petroleum products. At times, the capacity dropped to only 55% and was often only operating at 70-80% capacity.

Faced with that situation, the Ministry of Industry and Trade proactively advised the Government and directly directed the import of sufficient output to make up for the shortage.

Specifically, by mid-February, the country still had reserves of 3 million m³gasoline; while the average monthly gasoline consumption in our country is 1.8 to 1.9 million m³.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said that in the coming time, to ensure the supply of gasoline and oil, the Ministry will continue to direct key enterprises to increase imports in March, with an output of 1 million m³ or more, double the normal.

Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Nghe An province, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council chaired at the National Assembly Delegation of Nghe An province. Photo: Thanh Duy

Regarding the management of gasoline prices, the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade said: The Ministry of Finance - Industry and Trade has managed in accordance with the provisions of the law, flexibly, in accordance with the 10-day cycle and closely following world prices. World gasoline prices have increased by 40-46% compared to 2021, but domestic prices have only increased by 29%, lower than the world.

Faced with the rising price of gasoline, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and related ministries and sectors have advised the Government to propose to the National Assembly to reduce environmental tax, thereby reducing gasoline prices and supporting faster economic recovery.

Delegates attend the question and answer session at the Nghe An Provincial National Assembly Delegation bridge. Photo: Thanh Duy

The head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade also said that recently, the supply shortage occurred locally, because gasoline stores got goods from Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Complex under Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited, but the factory suddenly reduced its capacity.

In that context, the Ministry has requested that the sources of supply be shared to meet the demand for gasoline and oil, such as assigning additional gasoline and oil import quotas to import hubs and these quotas are made public. Any enterprise that does not make public the import and export volume will be in violation and will be punished.

Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has directed the Market Management Department to strengthen inspection and examination at most retail petrol stations. Accordingly, our country currently has about 17,000 petrol stations and has inspected about 16,800 stations.

Delegates attend the question and answer session at the Nghe An Provincial National Assembly Delegation bridge. Photo: Thanh Duy

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has also conducted a synchronous inspection of 33 enterprises with the function of importing gasoline and oil. Minister Nguyen Hong Dien affirmed: The spirit is that if any key enterprises are found not performing their functions and duties properly according to regulations, they will definitely be handled according to the provisions of the law, and the highest form is to suspend business and revoke licenses.

The National Assembly Standing Committee conducts a question-and-answer session on industry and trade, natural resources and environment.

(Baonghean.vn) - On March 16, the National Assembly Standing Committee held a question-and-answer session for National Assembly deputies on two groups of issues in the fields of industry and trade, natural resources and environment. Comrade Vuong Dinh Hue - Politburo member, Chairman of the National Assembly chaired the session.